◆ Being Rewarded and the Banquet
I knew by simply touching the dress that it was luxurious. The fabric switched to a different material just below the chest and elegantly fluttered outward. Unlike the bride selection ceremony that I’d attended last time, I wasn’t hiding my infinite storage bag in my corset this time. It was still tight, but it wasn’t suffocating like before.
I think I can eat this time, I hoped. Several layers of chiffon fabric hung over my dress in various colors: light pink, sky blue, and pastel purple. It looked flowery and vibrant while reminding me of the evening sky, emitting an aura of composure.
Under my chest was a large ribbon, and the chiffon skirt had small jewels woven into it. With every step I took, the jewels glimmered. My neck and shoulders were decorated with delicate floral lace.
My half-up hair was braided and adorned with blue flowers. The moment I set foot in the Holy Palace, escorted by Layla and Prince Faisal, Layla’s ladies-in-waiting polished me from my head to the tips of my toes. I was still suffering from a hangover and was in a bit of a daze as I let out a groan every now and then.
I was unable to recall all my memories from last night, though I felt it was best if they remained forgotten. I wasn’t planning on drinking a drop of liquor anytime soon, though I was never one to reach for alcohol.
On very rare occasions, I’d flippantly say, “I’m rewarding myself for working so hard,” while taking a sip or two of extremely weak liquor. It was so weak, in fact, that it was practically juice.
Mr. Julius’s liquor must’ve been really strong. I hadn’t drunk a single drop, but a single kiss from him was enough to give me a hangover. I never knew that such a ridiculous thing could happen. Simply remembering last night made me so embarrassed that I wanted to bury myself in a hole. I now realized how awful hangovers were.
“Chloe! You look so cute!” Layla squealed as she came to fetch me. I’d finished getting ready in the depths of the Holy Palace. “It’s such a waste that you don’t take good care of your appearance! Look at you!” She rushed over to me and squeezed my hands, a happy smile on her powdered face. She was the picture of a bewitching beauty.
“Um, Layla, how old are you again?” I asked.
“Twenty. Same age as you,” she replied.
“Then what is this difference?”
I felt like her cleavage could crush an egg if one was put in between her ample bosom. A massive jewel glittered just above her chest. Her lips were red and plump, and her eyelashes were so long that I thought I could hear them flap whenever she blinked. Her red dress fit tightly to her lithe frame, and a slit on the side revealed her pale leg.
In Astria, it was said to be rather uncouth to reveal one’s skin too much, and a lady doing so would be accused of working at a brothel and be scoffed at. However, Layla’s beauty was enchanting and graceful, an alluring princess in every way. I couldn’t blame Prince Faisal for being worried about men trying to woo her as I gazed at Layla in awe. We were the same age, but we were in completely different leagues.
“You know what they say, Chloe,” Layla said. “The grass is greener on the other side. There are times when I want to look adorable and petite like you, I’ll have you know.”
“If I looked as beautiful as you, I would lead men around by the nose and have them buy me meals,” I said.
“You won’t be able to do that. You’ve got Julius, much like how I’ve got Prince Faisal.”
“Y-You’re not wrong, but…”
“You sound a bit tired, Chloe. It must’ve been a rough night for you too, I presume. You look sleepy. Truth be told, I am too. It’s been a while since I was able to enjoy some alone time with Prince Faisal, so he always gets so clingy when he—”
“L-Layla, you shouldn’t talk about stuff like that so openly!” I cried out, interrupting her.
Not only did she get the wrong idea about what happened last night, but she was about to divulge something rather private. I was merely suffering from a hangover, and I hadn’t enjoyed my night like Layla had. As I hastily tried to cut her off, her lips curled up to form a mischievous smile.
“Prince Faisal always gets so clingy when he’s drunk,” Layla finished. “Since ancient times, the people of Rasheed have often drunk alcohol instead of water, so most of us can hold our liquor quite well. Prince Faisal rarely gets drunk, but I guess the recent flurry of events tired him out. He likely grew relaxed when he understood that he could kick back a bit… He became unusually inebriated.”
“Is that so?” I asked.
Just like me. But in my case, it’s Mr. Julius’s fault.
“And after he became absolutely smashed, he started apologizing profusely to me about the past without going to sleep,” she continued. “He kept sniffling while lamenting his actions, so it was a fiasco to soothe him.”
“That does sound quite tiring…” I sympathized.
Prince Faisal seemed to have a lot on his plate, so when he let loose, I imagined that it was an exhausting affair to calm him down. What if he has the same thoughts as me? I can’t remember much at all, but the mere thought of me crying and clinging to Mr. Julius would make me feel so bad…
The only saving grace was that Mr. Julius didn’t sound grumpy at all—in fact, he seemed to be in a good mood. After I fell back asleep and woke up, the food he ordered via room service had been polished clean, and many empty bottles of alcohol were strewn across the floor. Even after I was inebriated and fell asleep, he seemed to have enjoyed himself in the luxurious inn. He was able to take advantage of the amenities of the inn far more than I was. If he did wake up in a foul mood, I could only lower my head and apologize to Prince Faisal for not appreciating his treat.
“When he awoke the next morning, he remembered everything, and he was so down like the world had ended,” Layla said. “He was so gloomy that I went through a lot of trouble to cheer him up.”
“You’re so kind, Layla,” I remarked.